CS911

What do you think was the cause of those bad grades? Study time? Understanding the material? Something going on in that particular semester? I will be the first to say that a solid foundation in A&P is a must for success in nursing school. However, sometimes the A&P classes go in-depth, much past the context of clinical medicine. For example, nursing tests won't ask: An 89-year-old client is admitted for dyspnea on exertion and fever. You auscultate crackles in the right lower and middle lobes of the lungs. Which pathogen is the most likely the cause, and identify it according to the gram stain below: Nursing really is critically thinking -- every intervention or question has a "why" behind it. For example, if a patient is having difficulty breathing, which of the following should the nurse do FIRST? A) Give the patient oxygen B) Sit the patient up C) Call the provider D) Obtain pulse oxymetry

I wouldn't worry about it. Your nursing license is what makes you an RN, which you will obtain upon passing your NCLEX. I, too, went to a non-CCNE/AACN accredited school. I graduated with my ADN, and I got a job out of state in an ICU, Level I Trauma Center & teaching hospital, with a sign on bonus. Some day you will read about this again and think, "Gosh. I remember being so worried about this for no reason!"

We have those people. They are called CRNAs. We don't hate you [RTs], but you obviously worked at a terrible hospital.

Aspiring CRNA here, looking for guidance. So, here's the deal. I'm steadily approaching my 1st year out of school as a nurse in a 32-bed Medical ICU, Level I/teaching hospital. Fairly diverse patient population, including neurosurgical patients with EVD placement/ICP bolts.... plenty of vents and pressors, CVLs with CVP, ALines, maybe some Nitric Oxide on vents, but *rarely* PA caths.... maybe 1 per year? I feel like I am very comfortable with the Medical ICU variety patient. I've started precepting both nursing students and new hires. Respiratory failure, DKA, Cirrhosis, GI bleeds, Sepsis/Septic Shock, CHF Exacerbation, etc, but I feel I need more cardiac experience. I really want to learn open heart recovery, deeper interpretation of ECGs, balloon pumps, (more) chest tubes, in order to really successful as a future SRNA. So, should I stay in the Medical ICU and get CRRT certified -> charge nurse, etc... -- or -- would it be more helpful (in the context of being a well-rounded and comfortable ICU nurse / SRNA candidate) to transfer to either a CVICU or SICU? My hospital has both, and I did rotations during my critical care residency in both, but only for 2 weeks. Do SRNAs really need a good cardiac/open heart foundation? Or does the Medical ICU I described suffice? Thanks in advance, -CS

Marino's The ICU Book, 5th Edition. I'm a new graduate in ICU, and it explains a lot of principles and treatments that pertain to critical patients, especially respiratory. I think the book is written for medical students/interns, but the information is not overwhelming. It also highlights quite well the different pieces of hemodynamics and what their respective changes mean, and this is gold if you are going to be working with hearts (ACB/ACBG, post-STEMI, Cardiac Caths, etc..).

Texas Tech/UMC ICU

I'm in West Texas, soonest I could test was Jan 21st (Lubbock). I opted for Jan 26th so it didn't conflict with hospital classes.

I got my ATT this morning (SATURDAY?!?!) !!!! My AoG was never logged, but I checked this a.m. and it says 12/29. So weird. I wonder if someone was working OT today......

I hope they didn't lose it in the process! Let me know when you get your AoG posted!

I graduated out of state (FL), school mailed my affidavit of graduation 12/18/15, and it still hasn't been posted yet. Is anyone else in the same boat? I called the BON, and they said to continue to watch the website. Luckily, my hospital will let me attend the GN Internship orientation (unpaid) while all this gets sorted out. Waiting impatiently, Chris

I dispatch for the police & fire department while I'm going through school (*shoot me please!*). For you LTC folks, we are required to send due to liability Matter of fact, even the medical office buildings 400 ft. from the ER doors call for paramedics to transport the patient to...... the ER? I would really like to know where the phone # for 911 is stored in the brain, because no matter how stoned/drunk/narc'd someone is, they still manage to remember our number. :)

Awesome post. This was straight from the soul. I really appreciate you sharing your perspective as a rookie male nurse. Certainly our female colleagues encounter very similar challenges, but we men have a different worldview; for once I've found some genuine feedback from a man's eyes in the nursing world. I am a young guy that wants to go into nursing, and your story only solidifies my cause. Thanks bro, Christopher